Practical C Programming (A Nutshell handbook) [Paperback]

Steve Oualline, in this book, sets out how to write in C in a precise, easy to use fashion - even if you know next to nothing about how to write software. It's suitable for both getting started with embedded C and for PC based software, is explained in a manner that is neither condesending nor too highbrow.

Styling is covered in a sensible way, explaining both how you should make code readable for other people, but also that there isn't only one style that is correct.

Right through from getting your first "Hello World" program, through arrays, structures and pointers, topics are covered in a way to get the programmer started and give enough knowledge to experiment and expand your knowledge. Pitfalls and common problems are regularly outlined. There's even a great little chapter called "C's dustier corners" that tells of some of the parts of C you should avoid!

I've yet to find a better book about how to program in C.

It never really gets much beyond the basics, although there's some goodish material on coding linked lists and binary trees and suchlike. The best aspect is that it teaches good programming discipline and good coding style. The worst aspect is that it is badly out of date. This 3rd edition was published in 1997. Had it been up to date for 1997 it would still be useful, but it wasn't. An early chapter on IDEs discusses Turbo C++ and Visual C++ 1.0. Were you still using those in 1997? In a brief section on bitmapped graphics, I was shocked to read the following sentence: "More and more computers now have graphics. For the PC, there are graphics devices like EGA and VGA cards...". Really? EGA cards?

Yes, this book, like C, dates from ancient times when the mouse hadn't been invented, output devices were line-oriented and the graphical user interface a distant dream. Every programmer had to roll his own linked list and do his own memory management.

You'll find yourself jumping back to the book as you write your first clusters of programs.

Later on, the book seems to bring you into advanced basic C programming if such a phrase makes sense..

I recommend that a C bible or reference book that is around the intermediate level is bought too.. you'll find yourself wanting to know more about whats available in C as you complete this book.

Overall, a good buy. OS independent on the whole. Dont buy this book if you're a beginner but want to integrate what you do into a Windows programming.. but buy this first before jumping into GUI programming anyway.